Device for assembling by crimping linking components on means to be assembled

ABSTRACT

A device for assembly by crimping a connecting part of means to be assembled, characterized in that it comprises:  
     a) a structure ( 1 ) forming a frame with a longitudinal axis ( 2 ), at least three of whose faces permit the access of the means to be assembled into the core of said structure in directions perpendicular to said longitudinal axis;  
     b) a ring-shaped toothed crimping means in the core of the structure forming the frame, this means consisting of two separable toothed parts, one being fixed and the other being movable by translation;  
     c) inside the frame, a means movable by longitudinal translation ( 10 ) and carrying the movable toothed part ( 7 ) of the crimping ring.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to a device for assembly by crimping an appropriate connecting part of means to be assembled which can carry hydraulic, pneumatic or electrical energy.

[0002] In the context of the invention, the expression “connecting part” means that this particular part which is to be crimped is, for example, a ferrule, a union, a ring, a sleeve, a connector or other similar parts in which the area to be crimped is cylindrical.

[0003] Additionally, in the context of the invention, the expression “means to be assembled” relates to:

[0004] the rigid and/or flexible tubes which carry hydraulic or pneumatic power;

[0005] the ferrules associated with tubes and having at least one end crimped onto a tube and at least one other end forming a mechanical connection system such as, for example, a screw thread, a push-on fitting, a clip fitting, a rapid-action coupling, a glued fitting, a welded fitting, or other similar means;

[0006] mechanical cables for support, traction, or other types;

[0007] electrical cables carrying electrical power.

[0008] Also within the context of the invention, all these means to be assembled can be rigid and/or flexible, and can have two ends to be assembled by coaxial assembly, or more than two ends to be assembled, for example three ends in the case of a Y or T assembly, or, for example, four ends in the case of an X or + assembly.

[0009] The invention relates more particularly to a device for assembly by crimping an appropriate connecting part of means to be assembled having a complex shape before crimping.

[0010] The invention also relates to a device for assembly by crimping an appropriate connecting part of means to be assembled which can be incorporated into an automated industrial production system.

PRIOR ART

[0011] Power distribution circuits, such as hydraulic and pneumatic circuits, play a very important part in numerous fields of mechanical engineering.

[0012] Remote operation of various mechanical members under force can, for example, relate to:

[0013] robots operating on motor vehicle assembly lines;

[0014] civil engineering machinery, such as mechanical shovels, self-propelled pneumatic hammers, elevating platforms, self-propelled telescopic cranes or other devices;

[0015] extinguishing hoses;

[0016] plumbing hoses;

[0017] in the motor industry, power-assisted steering and braking and air conditioning;

[0018] domestic and/or industrial air conditioning;

[0019] in the field of aviation, landing gear lowering and retraction, and operation of brakes fitted to the wheels of landing gear. These various fluids are carried by tubing, of which some parts are rigid when they are located in installation areas not subject to mechanical movements, while the other parts are pliable and flexible when they are located in installation areas subject to mechanical movements such as translation, rotation of parts, or significant vibrations.

[0020] For example, the sealed joint between the terminal part of a rigid tube made from generally metallic material, and the end of a flexible tube made from a flexible material, possibly incorporating reinforcement consisting of a suitable support such as a textile, is generally made by forcible insertion of a limited length of the end of the rigid tube into an equivalent length of the flexible tube, and then by forcible crimping of the area of overlap of the two tubes, by means of a crimping connector surrounding the outer tube.

[0021] Crimping devices have been proposed for assembly by crimping an appropriate connecting part of tubes coupled at their ends, such as rigid and/or flexible tubes. These devices consist of the following, according to circumstances:

[0022] an assembly formed from teeth, or jaws, also called die segments, each tooth being separated from those around it by a means for keeping them in an open position and then momentarily bringing them together, and finally for their return to the open position, these teeth being arranged in a ring in an annular enclosure and being movable simultaneously by a radial movement to bring them into peripheral contact with the connector to be crimped and thus crimp it onto the coupled tubes which have been inserted axially into the ring formed by the teeth or jaws,

[0023] a mechanical means coaxial with the assembly formed from teeth, which acts on the teeth or jaws to displace them radially,

[0024] a hydraulic means acting on the mechanical means for causing the radial displacement of the teeth or jaws, in the form of a centripetal or centrifugal movement.

[0025] In a first vertical axis type (U.S. Pat. No. 4,527,414), the device for radially crimping a ring (51) onto an end coupling of tubes (50, 52) consists of:

[0026] a base plate (11) pierced by a tapered opening (12) whose axial taper is oriented in the downstream direction of the device,

[0027] die segments (15) or jaws placed in the tapered opening and a separator (25) of the die segments mounted elastically in the downstream part of the tapered opening (12) which supports the die segments (15) or jaws in a circular ring, this separator and the die segments thus being displaceable axially,

[0028] a hydraulic assembly (24, 30) positioned axially upstream of the base plate (11), acting in a downstream direction to push the die segments (15) or jaws downstream, in other words toward the smaller end of the tapered opening (12), in such a way as to produce a simultaneous radial movement of each die segment.

[0029] Thus the tubes (50, 52), coupled at their ends and fitted with the ring (5) to be crimped, are introduced axially from the downstream end into the crimping device in such a way that the ring (51) to be crimped is positioned at the level of the die segments (15) which are displaced radially by the action of the hydraulic assembly (24, 30) and crimp said ring. At the end of the crimping, the coupled and crimped tubes (50 and 52) are extracted axially from the crimping device by a movement which is the reverse of that by which they were introduced.

[0030] Equivalent and very similar devices are described in patents U.S. Pat. No. 3,851,514 and GB 962094.

[0031] In another vertical axis type (U.S. Pat. No. 4,107,964), the device for radially crimping an appropriate ring onto tubes coupled at their ends comprises the following coaxial members:

[0032] an outer annular structure made from two parts (1) and (2) integral with each other, in which part (1) acts as a cylindrical hydraulic chamber, while within the downstream part of the outer annular structure there is a tapered annular part (11) integral with parts (1) and (2) of the annular structure, whose taper is orientated in the upstream direction of the device,

[0033] a movable annular part (4) whose inner surface is tapered, orientated in the upstream direction of the device, and whose outer surface is cylindrical and matched to the inner surface of the part (1) of the outer annular structure. This annular part (4) acts as a piston within part (1) of the outer annular structure, being displaced coaxially by the action of a hydraulic fluid (7) introduced into the hydraulic chamber delimited by the inner surface of part (1) and the outer surface of the annular part (4), and

[0034] die segments or jaws (8), located inside the annular part (4) and bearing on the upper annular surface of the tapered part (11), and held away from each other by springs (40) in contact with the inner tapered surface of the movable part (4).

[0035] The tubes, coupled at their ends and fitted with the ring to be crimped at the position of the coupling, are introduced axially (as in the first type of device), but, by contrast with the first type of device, through the upstream opening of the part (4), until the area to be crimped is at the level of the die segments or jaws (8). The pressurized hydraulic fluid is then admitted into the annular hydraulic chamber (7), causing the displacement of the piston part (4) which, because of its inner taper, causes the radial displacement of the die segments or jaws (8) and the crimping of the ring.

[0036] In another type with a horizontal axis (U.S. Pat. No. 3,977,065), the device for radially crimping an appropriate ring onto tubes coupled at their ends comprises the following coaxial members:

[0037] an outer cylindrical annular structure acting as part of a hydraulic chamber supplied by a hydraulic pump,

[0038] an annular part (22) within this outer structure, acting as a piston, its free end being shaped as a tapered annular chamber,

[0039] die segments or jaws (24) in contact with the wall of the tapered annular chamber (22) and bearing on one end of the outer cylindrical annular structure.

[0040] The tubes, coupled at their ends and fitted with a ring to be crimped at the position of the coupling, are introduced axially into the device until the area to be crimped is located at the level of the die segments or jaws (24). Under the action of hydraulic pressure, the annular part (22) acting as a piston is displaced, thus causing, by the taper of the annular chamber, the radial displacement of the die segments or jaws and the crimping of the ring.

[0041] In another type of radial crimping device (U.S. Pat. No. 5,323,697), the closed crimping ring device consists of:

[0042] a frame consisting of a fixed part (18) and a movable part (19) operated by two jacks (25, 26) positioned perpendicularly on either side of the longitudinal axis (A-A) of the tubular part to be crimped,

[0043] an annular structure designed to receive the tubular part to be crimped, this annular structure being positioned in a cellular housing formed in the fixed part (18) of the frame, and in the movable part (19) of the frame, in such a way that the volume of the cellular housing is reduced as the movable part of the frame approaches the fixed part.

[0044] The annular structure located in the cellular housing consists of:

[0045] four guiding teeth (31, 32, 33, 34) located at 90° to each other. Each of these guiding teeth (31, 32, 33, 34) has a root consisting of two flat surfaces perpendicular to each other, bearing on complementary surfaces of the annular cellular housing. Two opposing guiding teeth (32, 34) have one flat surface of each of their bearing roots sliding on the movable part of the frame, and one flat surface of each of their bearing roots sliding on the fixed part of the frame, in such a way that these two teeth approach each other simultaneously as the cellular space is reduced. One guiding tooth (33) is carried by the fixed part of the frame and another guiding tooth (31) is carried by the movable part of the frame,

[0046] four guided teeth (37, 38, 39, 40) which are also positioned in the annular crimping structure. Each guided tooth is positioned between two common guiding teeth. Each guided tooth has a root consisting of two flat surfaces forming an obtuse angle of 135°, in such a way that each of the flat surfaces of the roots of the guided teeth bears in a flat sliding way on a complementary surface of a common guiding tooth.

[0047] When the movable part approaches the fixed part, the four guiding teeth simultaneously approach each other radially, thus pushing the roots of the guided teeth in an identical centripetal movement.

[0048] Clearly, this device has numerous major drawbacks. By way of illustration, some of these drawbacks are mentioned below:

[0049] the part to be crimped can only be inserted axially into the described device, and therefore parts which are bent or of complex shapes cannot be crimped,

[0050] the guided teeth are held by the guiding teeth by means of springs (55) connecting the common guiding teeth to the guided tooth to be held. The system of positioning by means of springs is inadequate because, in some cases, the guided tooth can remain jammed in the crimped part, causing it to be separated from the rest of the annular clamping structure. There is thus a marked lack of mechanical cohesion between the guided teeth and the guiding teeth.

[0051] All these prior art devices are based on the same principle in that:

[0052] the coupled tubes can only be introduced into the crimping area, for crimping their ends, along the axis of the device, in other words by introducing said tubes by a movement along the axis of the ring formed by the teeth or jaws, and access to the crimping area is therefore limited;

[0053] the axial positioning of tubes coupled at their ends for crimping is coaxial with the hydraulic means which radially displaces the teeth or jaws, and therefore the use and operation of the crimping devices is difficult;

[0054] the devices themselves, because of the principle of their design, cannot be used to crimp tubes coupled at their ends when one of the tubes is bent into a complex shape, such as a U or V shape, before crimping, although these devices are suitable for crimping a straight tube with an L-shaped bend in which the branch remaining free after the coupling is very short and can therefore be inserted into the crimping devices;

[0055] the crimping devices cannot be easily automated, and therefore cannot be incorporated in an automated industrial serial production system.

[0056] Another type of radial crimping device (JP 60141456) has a structure forming a frame (1) with a longitudinal axis, in which three faces can be opened to permit the access of the means to be assembled or crimped. A toothed means or set of jaws is positioned in the core of the device; these jaws consist of two groups of teeth which are identical to each other. A first group of teeth is fixed directly to a fixed part (2) of the frame (1) which forms a tooth support. A second group of six teeth is positioned on a movable mechanical assembly (3) which also forms a tooth support pushed by the jack (91).

[0057] Each of the teeth in these two groups has a base (201), (202), (301), (302), (401), (402), (501) and (502) perpendicular to the principal axis of the tooth. This base is shaped so that it can be coupled to the tooth support in such a way that the tooth can slide on this support in a movement parallel to its base. This assembly enables the teeth to be brought together when the jaw is clamped, while retaining an approximately coaxial arrangement of these teeth with respect to the axis of crimping.

[0058] The group of teeth positioned on the movable mechanical assembly (3) can be divided into three sub-groups of teeth.

[0059] A first sub-group of teeth consists of two teeth (65), (66), directly coupled to the jack (3) by the method of assembly used for the tooth bases described above. The two teeth of this sub-group are positioned radially opposite each other and on either side of the principal axis of thrust of the jack (91).

[0060] The other two sub-groups, each having two teeth, are identical to each other and are also positioned radially opposite each other and on either side of the principal axis of thrust of the jack (91). Each of these two sub-groups is positioned on a movable tooth support part (4), (5) fitted slidably on the planes (33), (34) formed in the movable part (3) at the end of the jack (91). These two planes which are formed are positioned symmetrically about the axis of thrust of the jack (91), and are inclined at 45° to this axis. The tooth supports (4) and (5) are coupled slidably to these two inclined planes in such a way that, when the crimping assembly is closed, the tooth supports lie flat on complementary surfaces (23), (24) which are equally inclined with respect to the axis of thrust and are positioned on the fixed frame opposite the jack (91). Thus, when the jack (91) is operated, the tooth supports simultaneously approach each other in a linear movement perpendicular to the axis of thrust of the piston (91).

[0061] The various groups of teeth (two teeth per group) supported respectively by the frame, the movable head of the piston and the movable tooth supports can thus be displaced radially to carry out the crimping operation.

[0062] One drawback of this device is that it requires the presence of two movable tooth support parts. The presence of these two parts makes it necessary to carry out a precise machining of all the surfaces for coupling the tooth supports to the frame and to the piston head.

[0063] Another drawback of this device is that the maximum lateral opening of the crimping device is limited by a major restriction formed by the teeth (63, 68) near the lateral opening. This major defect limits the size of the parts that can be crimped when they are inserted laterally. In some cases, the presence of the teeth (63, 68) restricting part of the lateral opening may cause damage to the parts to be crimped, and may result in rejection of products.

[0064] Another drawback of this system is that the crimping teeth are all fixed to their bases in such a way that they can be translated in only one direction along their supports. Thus the drawback of this solution is that it uses a large number of assemblies and a large number of coupled parts, thus complicating the manufacture of the device while also increasing the volume of the clamping device and the risk of its malfunctioning.

[0065] Each tooth is positioned by its base on its support by a plane to plane contact, resulting in an evident mechanical instability of the tooth during the clamping operation, and thus limiting the maximum clamping force transmissible through each tooth.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0066] A first object of the invention is to provide a device for assembly by crimping a connecting part of means to be assembled by their ends, thus providing improved access, particularly lateral access, to the crimping area, in other words to the ring formed by the crimping teeth.

[0067] Another object of the invention is to create a device for assembly by crimping a connecting part of means to be assembled, this connecting part possibly being a ferrule, a union, a ring, a sleeve, a connector or other similar device.

[0068] Another object of the invention is to create a device for assembly by crimping a connecting part of means to be assembled, where these means carry hydraulic, pneumatic or electrical energy, these means being rigid and/or flexible tubes, ferrules associated with these tubes and each having at least one end crimped on a tube while at least one other end forms a mechanical connection system such as, for example, a screw thread, a clip fitting, a rapid-action coupling, a push-on fitting, a glued fitting, a welded fitting, or other similar means, mechanical parts inserted in one tube and fixed by crimping a connecting part, or electrical cables.

[0069] Another object of the invention is to create a device for assembly by crimping a connecting part of means to be assembled, these means being mechanical cables for traction, support, or other applications.

[0070] Another object of the invention is to create a device for assembly by crimping a connecting part of means to be assembled, these means being rigid and/or flexible and possibly being extremely long, and possibly comprising two ends to be assembled coaxially or more than two ends to be assembled in the case of an assembly of a means of complex shape, for example a Y, T, X or + shape.

[0071] Another object of the invention is to create a device for assembly by crimping a connecting part of means to be assembled, this device being capable of forming crimpings with a precise diameter and with a precision which is maintained with repetition, by means of a “tool setting”.

[0072] Another object of the invention is to create a device for assembling, by crimping an appropriate connecting part, means to be assembled, where at least one of these means may have a complex shape before crimping, such as a shape represented by the letters U, V, Z, W or the symbol {square root}, where the bent part may be of considerable length.

[0073] Another object of the invention is to create a device for assembling, by crimping an appropriate connecting part, means to be assembled by their ends, this device being capable of being automated.

[0074] Another object of the invention is to create a device for assembling, by crimping an appropriate connecting part, means to be assembled, this device, since it is automated, being incorporated in an automated industrial serial production system comprising all the stages of manufacture and assembly of a finished article.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0075] According to the various objects stated above, the device according to the invention can eliminate the drawbacks encountered in the prior art and can also provide numerous advantages which were previously unavailable.

[0076] The device according to the invention for assembly by crimping a connecting part of means to be assembled is characterized in that it comprises:

[0077] a) a structure forming a frame with a longitudinal axis, at least three of whose faces permit the access of the means to be assembled into the core of said structure in directions perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.

[0078] b) a ring-shaped toothed crimping means in the core of the structure forming the frame, this means consisting of two toothed parts separable from each other and forming jaws, one of the toothed parts being placed in a fixed cellular housing created in the frame, and the other toothed part being placed in a cellular housing which is movable by longitudinal translation, said toothed means consisting of the two separable toothed parts

[0079] having an outer peripheral surface, created by the roots of the teeth, matching the inner peripheral surfaces of the two fixed and movable cellular housings on which the roots of the teeth bear,

[0080] creating an essentially cylindrical inner free reserve area for receiving connecting parts and means to be assembled, delimited by the cutting edges of the teeth which come simultaneously into contact with the connecting part to be crimped by radial displacement.

[0081] c) inside the frame, a means movable by longitudinal translation and carrying the appropriate movable cellular housing containing the movable toothed part which, in the open position, creates a transverse access passage from the periphery toward the core, between the two fixed and movable parts of the toothed means, and which, in the closed position, acts simultaneously with the fixed toothed part along a crimping axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0082] The device according to the invention is designed in such a way that the toothed means forming a ring, consisting of two toothed parts separable from each other because of the movability of one of them, has a crimping axis perpendicular to the axis of displacement of the movable toothed part. This particular arrangement of the axes facilitates access through at least three of its faces to the core of the crimping device, in other words to the interior of the toothed means which opens into two pieces.

[0083] According to this particular design of the crimping device, the toothed means, consisting of the two fixed and movable parts, has the appearance of a toothed ring when in the closed position, with its height controllable because it is matched to the length of the connecting part to be crimped: this ring is easily interchangeable according to the type of ring used for the crimping.

[0084] Consequently, because of the ease of access, particularly lateral access, to the core of the toothed means which opens into two pieces, and the controlled height of the toothed means, the device according to the invention can crimp connecting parts, such as rings, on means to be assembled, such as tubes of very complex shape, coupled at their ends, these shapes being those required by the user's specifications and normally imparted to said coupled tubes after crimping when the crimping is carried out according to the prior art.

[0085] The toothed means forming a ring according to the invention consists of teeth of which some are guiding teeth and the others are guided teeth, alternating with the guiding teeth and bearing at least partially on the lateral surfaces of the guiding teeth.

[0086] The number of teeth present in the toothed means is generally an even number, there being as many guiding teeth as guided teeth: this number may be, for example, eight, where four teeth are guiding teeth and four are guided teeth.

[0087] Preferably, each of the two fixed and movable toothed parts forming the ring-shaped toothed crimping means has an odd number of teeth. Thus, in the case where the number of teeth in the ring is eight, the fixed part of the toothed means has three teeth, one being a guiding tooth, and the movable part of the movable toothed means has five, three being guiding teeth.

[0088] In each of the two fixed and movable toothed parts forming the ring-shaped toothed crimping means, the component guiding and guided teeth are linked together

[0089] by guiding means allowing their relative radial displacement in a single plane by the bearing of the lateral surfaces of the guiding teeth and the guided teeth, and their bringing together up to total contact of their lateral faces when the two fixed and movable toothed parts change from a separated, in other words open, state to a state of face-to-face contact, in other words the closed state, and consequently to a position in which the part for crimping is crimped at the “tool setting”;

[0090] by elastic means for separating or for returning the teeth when the two fixed and movable toothed parts change from a closed state at the point when the crimping operation is completed to an open state for which the movable toothed part is separated from the fixed toothed part, thus releasing the part crimped by the jaws and enabling it to be removed.

[0091] The fixed and movable toothed parts are placed in appropriate fixed and movable cellular housings, in such a way that each toothed part forms a jaw of which one of the guiding teeth is integral with the inner surface of the corresponding cellular housing.

[0092] Each guiding tooth has a base whose outer surface, opposite the cutting edge of the tooth itself, forms the root of said tooth.

[0093] The root of each guiding tooth in each of the fixed and movable parts of the toothed crimping means has an outer surface matching the inner surface of the fixed or movable cellular housing containing said parts, in such a way that said root of each guiding tooth, particularly those which are not fixed, bears and slides with its outer surface on the inner surface of the cellular housings containing it.

[0094] The inner surfaces of each of the fixed and movable cellular housings and the outer surface of the root of each guiding tooth can be surfaces having a cross section which is an arc of a circle or is approximately polygonal.

[0095] The inner surface of the fixed and movable cellular housings can be provided with interchangeable surfaces for the sliding of the roots which can be easily removed and changed, when, for example, frictional wear due to the action of the roots of the guiding teeth occurs.

[0096] Regarding the guiding and guided teeth of each of the fixed and movable toothed parts forming the toothed crimping means, these are dependent on each other in each of the two parts, in such a way that they can be displaced with respect to each other because of the presence of a guiding means and an elastic separation or return means. These two means enable them to be brought together until their lateral surfaces make contact, or to be moved away, according to whether the crimping device is being closed or opened:

[0097] the guiding means consisting generally of a set of guides, formed, for example, by cylindrical elements such as guiding rods, placed between the teeth in appropriate housings fashioned in said teeth,

[0098] the elastic means for separating or returning the teeth consisting, for example, of a set of helical springs mounted on the guiding rods.

[0099] Finally, the means movable by longitudinal translation, present within the frame and carrying the movable toothed part in the appropriate cellular housing, consists of a hydraulic, mechanical, pneumatic or electrical means. The movable means may be:

[0100] hydraulic, in which case it consists of a hydraulic system comprising a hydraulic chamber, a piston carrying the movable toothed part and moving longitudinally by translation in the direction of the closing or opening of the crimping device under the effect of a hydraulic pressure produced by a suitable hydraulic circuit comprising all the means required for its correct operation,

[0101] mechanical, in which case it can consist of a system comprising links, cranks and pinions,

[0102] pneumatic, in which case it can consist of a system comprising pressure multiplication jacks, or

[0103] electrical, in which case it can consist of a system comprising an electric motor and a screw and nut means.

[0104] Thus the device for assembly by crimping according to the invention is distinguished from the other prior art devices by:

[0105] the simplicity of its mechanical design, due to the presence of a toothed ring consisting of two parts, one fixed and the other movable, which facilitates the access, particularly lateral access, to the core of the crimping device,

[0106] its capacity for crimping tubes of very complex shape,

[0107] its capacity for crimping with precise, repeated and therefore reproducible diameters, owing to the fact that the crimping end stop is provided by the mechanical blocking caused when all the lateral faces of the guiding and guided teeth are brought into contact with each other, providing a “tool setting”.

[0108] Moreover, the crimping device according to the invention has proved suitable for incorporation in an automated serial production system, comprising all the stages of manufacturing and assembly of a finished article.

[0109] The detailed description of the device according to the invention will be made clearer by the illustrative figures which do not limit its scope.

[0110]FIG. 1 is a view in longitudinal section of the device for assembly by crimping according to the invention, when it is in the “open” position, in other words in the position for ejection of the crimped part.

[0111]FIG. 2 is a view in longitudinal section of the device for assembly by crimping according to the invention, when it is in the “semi-open” position, in other words at the point where

[0112] the part to be crimped is about to be crimped by the closing movement of the device,

[0113] or an opening movement of the device is taking place immediately after the crimping of the part, to release the part.

[0114]FIG. 3 is a view in longitudinal section of the device for assembly by crimping according to the invention, when it is in the closed position, in other words at the point where the part to be crimped is being crimped.

[0115]FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the toothed crimping means forming a toothed ring consisting of two toothed parts, one fixed and the other movable, each toothed part consisting of radial guiding teeth and guided teeth placed between the guiding teeth.

[0116] In FIG. 1, the device according to the invention for the assembly, by crimping a connecting part, which is a ring, of means to be assembled consisting of tubes coupled at their ends is in the open position, in other words in the position for the introduction and positioning of said part to be crimped. The device comprises a structure (1) forming a frame, with a longitudinal axis (2), having three faces permitting access to the core (3) of said structure by the part to be crimped, consisting of tubes coupled at their ends. This access is easily gained through the space (4) which forms:

[0117] the space for the introduction and positioning of the part to be crimped in the core (3) of the structure of the crimping device, along an axis (5) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (2),

[0118] and then the space for the withdrawal of said part after crimping.

[0119] The ring-shaped toothed means is located inside the structure 1 and consists of two toothed parts, one fixed (6) and one movable (7), separable from each other and forming crimping jaws, the toothed part (6) being placed and fixed in a cellular housing (8) of the frame coaxially with the longitudinal axis (2), while the movable toothed part (7) is placed and fixed in a movable cellular housing (9) located at the end of a hydraulic means (10) acting as a piston moving on command with a translational movement along the longitudinal axis (2) in the direction of the arrows (12) for closing the crimping device and (13) for opening it.

[0120] In the open position, all the guiding teeth such as (14) and guided teeth such as (15) are held away from each other. When the hydraulic means (10) is operated, all the guiding and guided teeth approach each other and come into contact with each other (FIG. 2) by the bearing of their lateral surfaces and the sliding of said surfaces along each other until the face-to-face contact between said lateral surfaces is completed, at the point when the crimping is carried out (FIG. 3).

[0121] The fixed (6) and movable (7) toothed parts placed in the fixed (8) and movable (9) cellular housings are made integral with the cellular surfaces by the fixing of the guiding teeth (54) and (55) only in the fixed (8) and movable (9) cellular housings.

[0122] All the other guiding and guided teeth are linked together by appropriate guiding means and means for moving the teeth away from each other, as shown in FIG. 4.

[0123] The inner surface of each fixed (8) and movable (9) cellular housing is provided with interchangeable sliding surfaces (50), (51), (52) and (53), on which the roots of the guiding teeth such as (14) and of the guided teeth such as (15) bear and slide, except in the case of the guiding teeth (54) and (55) which are fixed to the bases of the cellular housings (8) and (9).

[0124] In FIG. 2, the device for the assembly, by crimping with a ring, of a part formed by two tubes coupled at their ends conforms to the description of FIG. 1.

[0125] However, by contrast with FIG. 1, FIG. 2 illustrates the case of a semi-open position of the device according to the invention, in other words at the point when the following are about to take place:

[0126] either the crimping of the part formed by the tubes coupled at their ends and placed in the core (3) of the device, by the translational movement of the movable toothed part (7) in the direction of the arrow (12) toward the fixed toothed part (6) until it comes into contact with it, and the consequent bringing together of all the teeth of these two parts by the pressure exerted by the movement of the hydraulic means (10) on said fixed and movable toothed parts;

[0127] or the release of the crimped part by the separation of the fixed (6) and movable (7) toothed parts, in accordance with the translational movement of the hydraulic means (10) in the direction of the arrow (13).

[0128] In FIG. 3, the device for the assembly, by crimping with a ring, of a part formed by two tubes coupled at their ends also conforms to the description of FIG. 1. However, by contrast with FIG. 1, FIG. 3 illustrates the case of the closed position of the crimping device according to the invention, at the moment of the actual crimping of the part to be crimped placed in the core (3) of the device. In FIG. 3, the movable (7) and fixed (6) toothed parts are in the closest contact, by means of the outer surfaces of the guiding and guided teeth which bear and slide on each other as a result of the pressure exerted by the movement of the hydraulic means (10) in the direction of the arrow (12).

[0129] The thrust of the hydraulic means (10) brings the cutting edges of the guiding and guided teeth into contact radially with the ring to be crimped on the part formed by the tubes coupled at their ends, so that they crimp the ring.

[0130] In FIG. 4, the fixed toothed part (6) consists of the guiding tooth (16) and the guided teeth (15) and (17). The movable toothed part (7) consists of the guiding teeth (14), (18) and (20) and the guided teeth (19) and (20). The assembly of the two parts (6) and (7) forms the ring-shaped toothed crimping means according to the invention.

[0131] In each of the two fixed and movable toothed parts, the guiding teeth and the guided teeth are linked together by the guiding means (38), (39), (40) and (41) which consist of cylindrical elements such as guiding rods placed between the teeth in appropriate housings fashioned in said teeth. Thus the rods (38) and (39) permit the displacement of:

[0132] the guided teeth (15) and (17) with respect to the fixed guiding tooth (16),

[0133] the guided teeth (19) and (21) with respect to the movable guiding tooth (20).

[0134] Similarly, the rods (40) and (41) permit the displacement of the guiding teeth (14) and (18) with respect to the movable guiding tooth (20).

[0135] Additionally, the guiding means (38), (39), (40) and (41) are associated with elastic separation means which, in the present case, are helical springs (60, 61, 62, 63, 64, and 65) placed respectively about said guiding means (41), (40), (38) and (39).

[0136] In each of the movable and fixed toothed parts, each guiding tooth, for example the guiding tooth (14), has a base (22) located at the opposite end from the tooth (23) itself, said base forming the root of said tooth (23).

[0137] The root of each guiding tooth, for example the guiding tooth (14), has an outer surface (24), (25) and (26) whose shape matches the inner surfaces of the fixed (8) and movable (9) cellular housings: in the present case, the cross sections of the inner surface of each cellular housing (8) and (9) and of the outer surface of the roots of each guiding tooth when said teeth are fully in contact with each other (as shown in FIG. 3) are of the polygonal type.

[0138] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, when the device according to the invention changes from an open state (FIGS. 1 and 4) to a closed state (FIG. 3) to carry out the actual crimping, by means of a ring, of a part formed by two tubes coupled at their ends, said part being introduced into the core (3) (FIG. 1) of two fixed (6) and movable (7) toothed parts, the movable translation means (10) carrying the movable toothed part (7) is displaced longitudinally in the direction of the arrow (12) under the effect of hydraulic pressure. The movable toothed part (7) comes into contact with the fixed toothed part (6) (FIG. 2), the guiding and guided teeth approaching each other under the effect of the displacement of the hydraulic means (10) in the direction of the arrow (12) (FIG. 1) and blocking the access (4).

[0139] Under the pressure of the inner surfaces of the cellular housings (8) and (9), the guiding teeth such as (14) are forced by their outer surfaces (24), (25) and (26) to undergo longitudinal and radial displacements, while imparting the same displacements to the guided teeth alternating with the guiding teeth.

[0140] The guiding teeth (14), (16), (18) and (20) are thus driven with a radial movement toward the axis of crimping. Each guided tooth such as tooth (15) has, at the opposite end from its cutting parts, a base generally consisting of two plane surfaces perpendicular to each other, such as the plane surfaces (31) and (36). These plane surfaces of the bases of the guided teeth are shaped to bear on the complementary plane surfaces of the adjacent guiding teeth, such as the guiding teeth (14) and (16).

[0141] In the example of the guiding teeth (14) and (16) and the guided tooth (15), which represent the other guiding teeth (14), (18) and (20) and the other guided teeth (17), (19) and (21), the plane surfaces (31) and (36) of the base of the guided tooth are thus pushed, when the crimping device is closed, by the complementary plane surfaces of the adjacent teeth (28 and 37). The plane surfaces of the bases of the guided teeth and the complementary surfaces of the guiding teeth are arranged in such a way that they are parallel to the direction of displacement of the guiding teeth (16) and (20) and also parallel to the direction of displacement of the guiding teeth (14) and (18). Because of this structural arrangement, when the crimping device is fully open, the teeth (18), (19), (20), (21) and (22) can be translated freely in the direction of the arrows (12) and (13) of FIG. 1, without any mechanical blocking interfering with the disengagement of the fixed toothed part from the movable toothed part.

[0142] Thus, in these movements, the guiding tooth (14) approaches the guided teeth (21) and (15) which themselves approach the guiding teeth (16) and (20).

[0143] The lateral surfaces (27) and (29) of the guiding tooth (14) come fully into contact with the corresponding lateral surfaces of the guided tooth (21).

[0144] Similarly, the lateral surfaces (28) and (30) of the guiding tooth (14) come fully into contact with the lateral surfaces (31) and (32) respectively of the guided tooth (15).

[0145] Similarly, the lateral surfaces (34) and (36) of the guided tooth (15) come fully into contact with the surfaces (35) and (37) of the guiding tooth (16).

[0146] In these movements, the contacts between all the lateral faces of all the guiding and guided teeth (22) impart a centripetal radial movement to the teeth, making them carry out the required crimping (FIG. 3).

[0147] When the crimping is complete, the hydraulic pressure in (11) is reversed. The movable means (10) is displaced in the direction of the arrow (23).

[0148] The movable toothed part (7) is detached from the fixed toothed part (6). All the guiding and guided teeth move away from each other with a centrifugal radial movement, being acted on by the elastic separation means (not shown) and guided by the guide rods (38), (39), (40) and (41).

[0149] At the end of these movements, the crimping device returns to the position of FIG. 1, releasing the crimped part which is ejected via the lateral access (4) which is again open.

[0150] The device for assembly, by crimping a connecting part, of means to be assembled can be used without any limitation

[0151] for crimping connecting parts such as ferrules, unions, rings, sleeves, connectors and other similar connecting parts,

[0152] for the assembly by crimping of means to be assembled which

[0153] may be rigid and/or flexible tubes which carry hydraulic or pneumatic energy,

[0154] may be ferrules associated with tubes of which at least one end may be crimped and the other end may have a connection system such as a screw thread, a clip fitting, a rapid action coupling, a push-on fitting, a glued fitting or a welded fitting,

[0155] may be mechanical parts inserted into a tube and fixed by crimping a connecting part,

[0156] may be electrical cables carrying electrical energy,

[0157] may be mechanical cables for traction or support,

[0158] may have at least two ends to be assembled, in the case of complex assemblies in the shape of a Y, T, X or +,

[0159] may have a complex shape in the form of a U, V, Z, W or the symbol {square root},

[0160] may be automated in an industrial serial production system. 

1) A device for assembly by crimping a connecting part of means to be assembled, characterized in that it comprises: a) a structure (1) forming a frame with a longitudinal axis (2), at least three of whose faces permit the access of the means to be assembled into the core of said structure in directions perpendicular to said longitudinal axis. b) a ring-shaped toothed crimping means in the core of the structure forming the frame, this means consisting of two toothed parts separable from each other and forming jaws, one of the toothed parts (6) being placed in a fixed cellular housing (8) created in the frame (1), and the other toothed part (7) being placed in a cellular housing (9) which is movable by longitudinal translation, said toothed means consisting of the two separable toothed parts (6) and (7) having an outer peripheral surface, created by the roots of the teeth (14), (15), (16), (17), (18), (19), (20) and (21), matching the inner peripheral surfaces of the two fixed (8) and movable (9) cellular housings on which the roots of the teeth bear directly, creating an approximately cylindrical inner free reserve area (3) for receiving connecting parts and means to be assembled, delimited by the cutting edges of the teeth which come simultaneously into contact with the connecting part to be crimped by radial displacement, c) inside the frame, a means movable by longitudinal translation (10) and carrying the appropriate movable cellular housing (9) containing the movable toothed part (7) which, in the open position, creates a transverse access passage (4) from the periphery toward the core, between the two fixed (6) and movable (7) parts of the toothed means, and which, in the closed position, acts simultaneously with the fixed toothed part along a crimping axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (2), d) the ring-shaped toothed means consists of teeth, some of which are guiding teeth while the others are guided teeth alternating with the guiding teeth and bearing at least partially on the lateral surfaces of the guiding teeth.
 2. The device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the toothed means comprises an even number of teeth divided into equal numbers of guiding and guided teeth.
 3. The device as claimed in at least one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the toothed means comprises eight teeth, four being guiding teeth and four being guided teeth.
 4. The device as claimed in at least one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that each of the two fixed and movable toothed parts forming the toothed means preferably comprises an odd number of teeth.
 5. The device as claimed in at least one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the fixed part of the toothed means comprises three teeth, one of which is a guiding tooth, and the movable part of the toothed means comprises five teeth, three of which are guiding teeth.
 6. The device as claimed in at least one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, in each of the two fixed and movable toothed parts of the toothed crimping means, the component teeth are interlinked by guiding means (38), (39), (40) and (41), allowing their relative radial displacement in a single plane by the bearing of the lateral surfaces of the teeth and their bringing together up to full contact of their lateral faces when the two fixed and movable toothed parts change from a separated, in other words open, state to a state of face-to-face contact, in other words a closed state, in the position in which the connecting part is crimped.
 7. The device as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the guiding means are cylindrical rod elements placed between the teeth in appropriate housings.
 8. The device as claimed in at least one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, in each of the two fixed and movable toothed parts of the toothed crimping means, the component teeth are interlinked by elastic separation or return means when the two fixed and movable toothed parts change from a closed state at the point when the crimping operation is completed to an open state for which the movable toothed part is separated from the fixed toothed part.
 9. The device as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the elastic separation or return means are helical springs.
 10. The device as claimed in at least one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that each of the fixed and movable toothed parts has one tooth integral with the inner surface of the corresponding cellular housing.
 11. The device as claimed in at least one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the inner surface of each of the fixed and movable cellular housings and the outer surface of the root of each tooth are surfaces having cross sections in the form of an arc of a circle or of an approximately polygonal type.
 12. The device as claimed in at least one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the inner surface of the fixed (8) and movable (9) cellular housings is provided with interchangeable surfaces (50), (51), (52) and (53) for the sliding of the roots of the teeth.
 13. The device as claimed in at least one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the means movable by translation (10) carrying the cellular housing (9) containing the movable toothed part (7) is a system of the hydraulic, mechanical, pneumatic or electrical type.
 14. The device as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that the means movable by translation (10) carrying the cellular housing (9) containing the movable toothed part (7) is a hydraulic system which is displaced longitudinally by translation in one direction for the crimping action and in the opposite direction for the removal of the crimped coupled tubes and/or the introduction of the coupled tubes to be crimped.
 15. The device as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that the means movable by translation (10) carrying the cellular housing (9) containing the movable toothed part (7) is a mechanical system comprising links, cranks and pinions.
 16. The device as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that the means movable by translation (10) carrying the cellular housing (9) containing the movable toothed part (7) is a pneumatic system comprising pressure multiplication jacks.
 17. The device as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that the means movable by translation (10) carrying the cellular housing (9) containing the movable toothed part (7) is an electrical system comprising an electric motor and a screw and nut means. 